The drive back to the Malhotra mansion was a storm of silence.Rajās knuckles were white on the steering wheel. Saira sat beside him, wrapped in Adrianās jacketāan insult he couldnāt tolerate. Every second it stayed on her shoulders, his fury deepened.As soon as they pulled into the mansion driveway, Raj stepped out, opened her door, and without a word, peeled Adrianās jacket off her. The gesture wasnāt harsh, but it wasnāt gentle eitherāit was possessive. He didnāt speak, didnāt explain. Instead, he shrugged off his own and draped it over her, the warm scent of sandalwood and raw power surrounding her.Saira blinked, lips parting in surprise. His eyes held hersāburning, unreadable.When they entered the house, Raj didnāt let the staff near her. He swept her up in his arms before she could protest.āI can walkāā she murmured.āNo chance.ā His voice was a low, obsessive growl. Her soft hands gripped his shirt, clinging to him as he strode through the hallway, In her room, he sat her
The Vaughan Villa stood tall, its white marble walls glowing under golden lanterns. As Rajās shiny black car stopped at the entrance, Saira felt nervous. The huge house, with its tall pillars and big gardens, looked rich and powerful. The party inside was going to be fancy, and she wasnāt sure she was ready. Raj got out first, looking sharp in his black tuxedo a vision in black with his signature dominance stitched into every stride. He held out his hand, his eyes sparkling. āReady to shine, angel?ā Saira gave a small smile, her stomach full of butterflies as she took his hand. āI donāt know if I can handle all this attention.ā He squeezed her hand. āYouāre perfect for it. Trust me.ā They walked into the ballroom. Sparkling chandeliers hung like stars, lighting up the shiny marble floor. The room was full of soft chatter, clinking glasses, and quiet music from a small band. But the people made Sairaās heart race. There were only about fifty guests, but each one looked important. S
The boutique glowed with soft chandeliers and velvet carpet underfoot, a luxurious haven in the heart of the city. But while Kiara was darting from one dress rack to another like a woman on a mission, Saira might as well have been floating in a dream.Or more accuratelyāa memory.A single kiss.Chocolate-flavored lips. A warm mouth. A hand that held her like she was something fragile⦠and then, suddenly, not fragile at all."You ready?" Kiaraās voice jolted her out of her daze.Saira blinked, realizing sheād been staring at a display of shoes for the past five minutes without moving an inch. āHuh?āKiara cocked her head, arms full of hangers draped with vibrant fabrics. āSaira, whatās going on with you today? Youāve zoned out like five times already. Are the mannequins whispering business plans or are you just lost in la-la land?āSaira tried to laugh it off. āJust tired, I guess.āāLiar,ā Kiara sing-songed, narrowing her eyes. āYouāve been weird ever since breakfast. Youāre totally b
After the emotional chaos of last night, the morning air was unusually calm. Golden sunlight streamed through the tall windows, casting warm patterns across the glossy floors of the breakfast hall. The clink of cutlery blended with the soft rustle of curtains fluttering in the breeze. The table, adorned with buttery croissants, golden scrambled eggs, and an aromatic swirl of cinnamon coffee.Raj sat at the head of the table, dressed immaculately in a crisp white shirt, sleeves rolled just enough to show the veins along his forearmsāveins Saira couldnāt help but notice. He sipped his black coffee, scrolling through his phone, the picture of calm control.Saira sat diagonally across, picking at her toast. Her fingers moved absently, her mind clearly elsewhere. She stole glances at Raj now and thenābut little did she know, each one was being returned when no one else was watching.Kiara, seated beside Raj, was completely unaware of the subtle war of glances happening around her. She happ
ā¦Her eyes were wide, lips trembling for something that made her chest tighten and her knees threaten to buckle.But still, she didnāt say it.Didnāt say stop.Didnāt say donāt.Instead, her silence gave him permission. Again.Rajās lips hovered inches above hers, his breath warm and ragged against her skin. He could feel her pulse jumping beneath his fingersāerratic, desperate.āIām not the boy who used to torment you,ā he whispered roughly. āBut Iām still the man who wants to ruin you.āSairaās breath hitched, her eyes fluttering shut for half a second at the confession.The darkness he no longer tried to hide.And somehow, it didnāt scare her.āIām already ruined,ā she whispered back, barely audible. āJust not by you.āThat broke something in him.With a guttural groan, Raj crushed his mouth to hers againāharder this time, reckless. His grip on her wrists loosened, and she wrapped her arms around his neck instinctively, as if her body had been aching for this. For him.He lifted her
The air between them crackled with tension, thick and heady. Rajās gaze darkened as he slowly leaned in, his body caging Saira against the wall. His eyes traced every flicker of emotion on her faceāher parted lips, the rapid rise and fall of her chest, the way her breath hitched when his thumb brushed her wrist.Saira stood frozen, her back almost brushing the wall, her heart racing like it wanted out of her chest. Raj stood in front of herātoo close. āRajā¦ā she said softly, not quite sure if it was a warning or a plea.He didnāt answer.His eyes traveledāslowlyāfrom her eyes to her lips, then back up again.He didnāt need to say a word. She knew what he wanted. āSay something,ā he breathed. āSay stop. Say donāt. Just say anything.āHis hand lifted, hesitating in the air before his fingers gently brushed a strand of hair from her face. āTell me to stop,ā he said, gaze locked with hers. āAnd I will.āSaira swallowed. She knew what was coming. She knew she should say something. But her